Why Didn't Diddy Mention Cassie In Video Apology? Rapper Allegedly Barred By NDA Settlement
Sean "Diddy" Combs received an intense backlash for not mentioning Cassie in his video apology, but he has a reason for not doing so, according to a report.
The rapper and producer uploaded a video on Instagram expressing how "sorry" he was after a video leaked last week where he seemingly assaulted his ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura. However, his apology received several criticisms, with many pointing out why he didn't even mention Cassie's name, and a new report claimed it was down to an NDA in their settlement.
Sources familiar with the agreement told TMZ that when Diddy settled with Cassie after she sued him for alleged rape and a decade-long pattern of abuse in November, the settlement included a very strict nondisclosure agreement (NDA) preventing both of them from speaking about each other in public.
The outlet added that it was also the reason Cassie remained silent even after the assault video from 2016 leaked. She never released a statement nor trashed Diddy, even if it was visible how he kicked and grabbed her in the footage.
Diddy's legal team also reportedly reviewed his apology video before he was allowed to upload it on social media. They reportedly wanted to ensure that it adhered to the NDA and had no mention of Cassie's name, even if he wanted to mention her.
Another reason Diddy didn't mention Cassie's name was because she was reportedly only the tip of the iceberg when it came to his legal battles. He had already settled their case, but he still has three other lawsuits, with similar allegations to what Cassie made against him.
His lawyers were reportedly on edge about him making any public statements while there's pending litigation because his words could be used against him in court.
In Diddy's video apology, he said he was "truly sorry," while acknowledging that his behavior was "inexcusable." He also said that he took "full responsibility for my actions in that video" and he had already sought out professional help.
However, Cassie's team wasn't satisfied with his statement. According to her team, his words were "disingenuous."
"Combs' most recent statement is more about himself than the many people he has hurt," Meredith Firetog, a partner at Wigdor LLP, said in a statement.
"When Cassie and multiple other women came forward, he denied everything and suggested that his victims were looking for a payday. That he was only compelled to 'apologize' once his repeated denials were proven false shows his pathetic desperation, and no one will be swayed by his disingenuous words."
Diddy settled Cassie's case against him just a day after her filing in November. Author Tracy Walder, who previously worked for the FBI and CIA, believed that he made the move to conceal the hotel footage that leaked last week.
"I do think [Combs] was worried about the tape getting out," Walder told Fox News, adding that he allegedly paid the hotel $50,000 not to leak it as stated in Ventura's lawsuit. "Ms. Ventura knew the video was out there, and it was provided to her attorney as part of the case. I believe he settled it the next day for fear of it getting out."
